72 hour kits

A few weeks ago we were asked to be presenters at a community meeting on the North Shore about being prepared in an emergency, specifically how we created our 72 hour kits on a budget. We both felt honored to have been asked and have given it a little thought since then and today about what we'd say and show. As it turns out (as is usually the case), we ended up throwing things in the car 1 hour before it started, going to Warehouse stationery to print our flyers for it, and writing our notes on the back of an envelope on the way over to the shore!

Despite our rushed arrival, it went really well. Our old Bishop had initiated the event and had collaborated with the community board and local Civil Defense. We had no idea how many people to expect, but there would have been about 130 people there, with 40 or so children playing outside, so it was a well supported event, obviously showing there's interest in how to get prepared. Not only did the Bishop organise the meeting, but he had asked the church to provide 72 hour kit buckets and wind up torch radios for everyone that came (+ a sausage at the end of course!).

Here's some of the things we shared

Although as a country we have organisations like Civil Defense and Red Cross, we need to be self reliant for whatever may come and not rely on others to come and help us with water, food, blankets etc.

It's a matter of sitting down listing what you already have, gathering it in one place and then identifying what's outstanding.

Highlight what you don't have and make efforts over time to get it. (put it on the fridge so you're reminded of it often)

You don't need to go into debt over being prepared. It can be done slowly but surely and frugally.

Give 72 hour kit items as birthday/christmas presents so they double as a present and contribute to your preparedness (eg Torch, sleeping bag, tent)

Kit items can be bought through op shops, Grabone, Outlet stores, $2 shops, trademe

Don't wait until it's too late, or think you'll be fine, it won't be that bad or it won't happen where you live. Disasters can happen anywhere and when they do the time to prepare is over.

Here's the handout that we shared....

There is so much peace of mind that comes from knowing that we're prepared in case of an emergency, whether we can stay in our home or not. Although I'd much rather have all of these things packed away and never have to use them, we are prepared and I feel confident we would be able to survive for 3 days (maybe more) without help from anyone else.

I'll have to do another post on this topic in a little while because I need to take some pictures of the girls trawling through all of our 'stuff'. They had a blast carrying their bags around this morning and talking about how we might go camping with it one day.